Sports Business Podcast with Prof. C - Fordham Gabelli School of Business

The MLB-ESPN Split: What It Means for Baseball's Broadcast Future

Major League Baseball and ESPN had an ugly divorce recently as the venerable sports network opted out of its contract with MLB for broadcast rights, reflecting the uncertain media landscape of the National Pastime. Get the background of the divorce and the future of baseball broadcasting in this episode of Prof. Mark Conrad's "Sports Business Podcast with Prof. C."
Host: Mark ConradProducer: Victoria IlanoAdditional Production: Jeffrey HaynesArtwork: Pamela V. WhiteMarketing: Michelle MillerMusic: ”MarcusWay/Energetic Pop Punk/Tribe of Noise”

Preventing College Athletes from Being Scammed: A Conversation with Supervisory Attorney Adviser Malinda Pileggi on the SEC's Efforts to Protect these Athletes

The growing professionalization of college sports has meant that many young athletes receive compensation for their name, image, and likeness (NIL). In the near future, they may also receive salaries and additional benefits; giving them access to considerable sums of money and, with it, the potential for being victimized by fraudsters and scammers who may target these athletes because of their financial situation, notoriety, and popularity.
In this episode of the Sports Business Podcast with Prof. C. we explore the outreach efforts of the Chicago Regional Office of the Securities and Exchange Commission to educate college athletes about the SEC, the specific roles and responsibilities of investment professionals, the scope of financial fraud, and tips to help avoid being a fraud victim. Malinda Pileggi, a Supervisory Attorney Adviser in the Division of Examinations at the SEC's Chicago Regional Office, joins the podcast to discuss these programs. Tune in for an informative and timely conversation on safeguarding the financial futures of college athletes.
Host: Mark ConradProducer: Victoria IlanoAdditional Production: Jeffrey HaynesArtwork: Pamela V. WhiteMarketing: Michelle MillerMusic: ”MarcusWay/Energetic Pop Punk/Tribe of Noise”

How Juan Soto Avoids New York’s Taxman: A Deep Dive with Tax Expert Robert Raiola

Juan Soto's monster contract with the New York Mets raises questions regarding his tax liability in New York. While he works for a New York team, the intricacies of his contract - notably his $75 million signing bonus - are out of the hands of the New York taxman. How does this happen? Check out our latest episode with one of our frequent guests - tax expert Robert Raiola, who has worked with over 100 professional athletes across the five major sports. He dives into how Soto's contract is structured and why he does not have to pay one cent of his bonus to New York. Tune in for a fascinating discussion!
Host: Mark ConradProducer: Victoria IlanoAdditional Production: Jeffrey HaynesArtwork: Pamela V. WhiteMarketing: Michelle MillerMusic: ”MarcusWay/Energetic Pop Punk/Tribe of Noise”

The Trump Effect: Are Major Shifts in Sports Law Coming?

On January 20th, Donald Trump will assume the presidency, and it is safe to say that his administration will make changes in certain areas of sports law. What will they be? It is likely to include changes in transgender rights, for one. For other predictions, check out Professor Mark Conrad on his podcast "Sports Business Podcast with Prof. C."
Host: Mark ConradProducer: Victoria IlanoAdditional Production: Jeffrey HaynesArtwork: Pamela V. WhiteMarketing: Michelle MillerMusic: ”MarcusWay/Energetic Pop Punk/Tribe of Noise”

Time for the Sports Industry to Fight Antisemitism

The Anti-Defamation League reports that more than 10,000 antisemitic incidents occurred in the United States between October 7, 2023, and September 2024 – a huge jump from 3,300 incidents the prior year. This podcast outlines the way that the sports industry could help in combating this scourge  -- from education to sanctions and disciplinary actions. Tune in to this edition of the Sports Business Podcast with Prof. C. to learn more.
Host: Mark ConradProducer: Victoria IlanoAdditional Production: Jeffrey HaynesArtwork: Pamela V. WhiteMarketing: Michelle MillerMusic: ”MarcusWay/Energetic Pop Punk/Tribe of Noise” 

The Pop-A-Shot National Championship: A Marketing Professor's Journey with Prof. Luke Kachersky and Pop-A-Shot VP Nick Gonzalez

This episode of the Sports Business Podcast with Prof. C takes a break from controversial issues and focuses on “Pop-A-Shot” an arcade basketball game played by families and friends. Recently, a national competition for the champion Pop-A-Shot player took place, and one of the finalists was my colleague Prof. Luke Kachersky, who teaches marketing at the Gabelli School of Business.
I invited Luke and Nick Gonzalez, Vice President of Marketing for Pop-A-Shot to join me for a lively session about marketing and participating in this competition on national television. Please tune in!
Host: Mark ConradProducer: Victoria IlanoAdditional Production: Jeffrey HaynesArtwork: Pamela V. WhiteMarketing: Michelle MillerMusic: ”MarcusWay/Energetic Pop Punk/Tribe of Noise” 

American Olympic Success Fueled by the NCAA: Will the Athlete Pipeline between College and the Olympics End with the Major Changes in the NCAA System?

U.S. athletes made an impressive showing at the Paris Olympics, winning 126 medals to lead all other nations. Much of the credit has gone to the college sports system, which has given track and field, swimming, and gymnastics athletes the opportunity to work under elite coaches in first-class facilities. However, with the likelihood of student-athlete compensation, sports programs that favor Olympic sports may be adversely affected and it may decrease the medal results. Tune in to this edition of the Sports Business Podcast with Prof. C. to learn more.
Host: Mark ConradProducer: Victoria IlanoAdditional Production: Jeffrey HaynesArtwork: Pamela V. WhiteMarketing: Michelle MillerMusic: ”MarcusWay/Energetic Pop Punk/Tribe of Noise”

Music Gets Waterlogged at the Olympic Opening Ceremony

The Olympic Movement takes itself very seriously. The often-portentous opening ceremonies invoke goals of peace and respect for athletes the world over. Unfortunately, those goals were not evident in the pouring rain of this opening ceremony in Paris. Ask the musicians who had to play in pouring rain and whose instruments were permanently destroyed. Tune in to this edition of the Sports Business Podcast with Prof. C. to learn more.
 
Host: Mark ConradProducer: Victoria IlanoAdditional Production: Jeffrey HaynesArtwork: Pamela V. WhiteMarketing: Michelle MillerMusic: ”MarcusWay/Energetic Pop Punk/Tribe of Noise” 

Did Chinese Swimmers Get a Break from Doping Enforcement?

It was recently revealed that nearly half of China’s swimming team tested positive for a banned substance just months before the Tokyo Olympics in 2021, but the athletes were still allowed to compete. Apparently, China's Anti-Doping Agency concluded that the swimmers ingested the performance-enhancing prescription heart drug known as TMZ, unwittingly and did not enforce sanctions.
Shockingly, the international agency known as the World Anti-doping Agency declined to challenge the decision, allowing the alleged offenders to compete and collect up to half a dozen medals for China. How can this be tolerated? Tune in to this edition of the Sports Business Podcast with Prof. C. to learn more.
Host: Mark ConradProducer: Victoria IlanoAdditional Production: Jeffrey HaynesArtwork: Pamela V. WhiteMarketing: Michelle MillerMusic: ”MarcusWay/Energetic Pop Punk/Tribe of Noise”

The Copa America Mess in Miami

The final match in this important regional soccer tournament turned out to be an embarrassment for host country United States when some fans entered the stadium without tickets, causing delays, health concerns for fans waiting in the stifling heat and damage to the facility. Why did this happen? And what can be done before the U.S. hosts the bulk of the 2026 World Cup tournament? Tune in to this edition of the Sports Business Podcast with Prof. C. to learn more.
Host: Mark ConradProducer: Victoria IlanoAdditional Production: Jeffrey HaynesArtwork: Pamela V. WhiteMarketing: Michelle MillerMusic: ”MarcusWay/Energetic Pop Punk/Tribe of Noise”